"Two floor-to-ceiling windows worth $200,000—goodness, this might be the most expensive glass compensation in S.H.I.E.L.D. history!"
Sitting across from Su Che, Natasha Romanoff tossed snacks into her mouth and smiled. "The money's already been deposited into your account."
"But for some reason, I feel like Nick Fury was unusually quick to pay up."
"And so willing, too—as if compensating for the two windows in your café wasn't for you, but for him."
Su Che picked up his phone and glanced at it.
Sure enough, an extra $200,000 had been added to his balance.
"The footage of our fight with Olivia Temple last night was recorded, but my face was altered so no one could recognize me," Natasha said, swallowing her snacks. "As you said, before the number of superheroes increases,"
"it's best not to show my face for a while, to avoid losing my own life."
"Also, there are two things I need to talk to you about."
She took a sip of coffee and frowned. "Did I just add sugar or real sugar?"
"I didn't notice—they're all mixed together anyway," Su Che replied with a smile.
"Alright. I was actually trying to cut down on sugar lately—haven't been training much, and I still want to keep fit."
Without dwelling on it, Natasha looked at Su Che and said, "Two things. First, Nick Fury wants to meet with you."
"Mainly to purchase that metallic hydrogen—the kind only you can compress from water—for S.H.I.E.L.D."
"After all, according to S.H.I.E.L.D. researchers, metallic hydrogen is like the holy grail of physics: full of hope but currently unattainable."
"So the price is negotiable. Just name your amount!"
She raised an eyebrow. "If you really plan to sell, don't lowball it."
"When physicists worldwide want to create it but only you have it privately,"
"don't save money for S.H.I.E.L.D. Even though S.H.I.E.L.D. is buying, the World Security Council is footing the bill."
Su Che nodded. "I'm not a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Why should I save money for S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
"Besides, I don't really care about money. For people like us, getting money is quite simple."
Natasha nodded noncommittally.
When she had escaped the Red Room, she had worried about everything—except money.
For those with super abilities, morality and kindness often held them back from abusing their power.
Like Superman in the comics:
if not bound by moral values and goodwill, he would have been king of Earth long ago.
"The other thing is—a man has returned!" Natasha said seriously.
"Perhaps his return will bring joy and even excitement to countless people!"
"Who's back?" Su Che asked, puzzled.
Natasha's description didn't sound like Tony Stark's return from kidnapping.
Even if Tony had returned, it wouldn't make "countless people joyful," let alone "excited"!
"A superhero—one abandoned by time, asleep for nearly seventy years, commemorated for seventy years."
"His return will definitely inspire many people, including agents at S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
Natasha met Su Che's gaze and smiled over her coffee. "Don't look at me like that—the cheesy lines are Nick Fury's. I'm just paraphrasing!"
"Steve Rogers. The legend from the memorial hall."
Hearing that Steve Rogers had returned, Su Che was genuinely surprised.
Though the name had appeared in the black-gold diary, and he knew Nick Fury would eventually send someone to the Arctic to find him,
he hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
And from Natasha's tone, Steve was already awake?
Moreover, her paraphrasing of Nick Fury's line—"The return of the legendary hero will definitely inspire S.H.I.E.L.D. agents"—
was interesting.
Did it mean that, through the contents of the black-gold diary,
Nick Fury had already detected HYDRA's presence within S.H.I.E.L.D. ahead of time?
Well, well. Nick Fury's character being what it was,
discovering HYDRA early would be… fun.
Better keep nudging him in the diary.
The more Nick Fury learned about HYDRA's depth and power within S.H.I.E.L.D.,
the more valuable Su Che would become to him.
That would greatly help increase his trust level.
"Wait—Tony Stark's press conference has started!" Natasha exclaimed, pointing at the TV on the wall.
It was broadcasting Tony Stark's press conference following his return from captivity.
"I didn't expect the first thing he'd do after coming back wasn't to get checked out, but to hold a press conference."
"Su, what do you think this playboy wants to announce to the media?"
Seeing Natasha's interest, Su Che gestured across the street. "Stark Industries is right opposite. The press conference is on the first floor."
"If you're curious, you could go watch in person."
"Never mind. Anyway, I—is he crazy?!"
On the live broadcast, Tony Stark was sitting on the floor, announcing to the media that
Stark Industries' weapons manufacturing division would be permanently shut down.
As reporters swarmed forward, Natasha turned to Su Che in disbelief. "Doesn't he know what Stark Industries is built on?"
Like many others, she thought Tony had lost his mind.
Even Obadiah Stane, who managed to calm the reporters, thought Tony was insane.
He pulled Tony aside, but before he could ask anything,
Tony stared at him and demanded, "Oba, do you know who Mr. Superman is?"
"Who?"
Obadiah Stane, who had been ready to question Tony about the sudden announcement and the lack of consultation,
was suddenly baffled.
Who is Mr. Superman?
Uh… Clark Kent? Kal-El?